1 John 4:19
King James Version
19 We love him,
because he first loved us.
This will probably be the shortest article yet.
And possibly, the most profound.
What mattered before GOD made me born again?
What mattered after GOD made me born again?
Let the pictures speak for themselves.
Before GOD made me born again:
After GOD made me born again:
Because He is all that.
Related posts:
Collage and photos by author
Proverbs 17:22
King James Version
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
What makes my heart so excited each day?
Knowing SCRIPTURE, that's what.
I know what to think.
I know who to believe.
I know what to believe.
I know what to read.
I know what to do.
I know how to live.
I know what to expect.
Out of the jelly of a belly of my heart, I've come to know the commandments of JESUS, through SCRIPTURE, and have become productive for CHRIST.
John 7:38
King James Version
38 He that believeth on me,
as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
SCRIPTURE -- the WORD of GOD -- tells me EVERYTHING I need to know.
And if you haven't embraced that yet, it's only because you haven't really made friends with GOD yet.
When GOD is convinced you are His, and that you seek ONLY His wisdom, He is SURE to show up.
And He'll make you born again.
You'll LOVE being born again.
For all will be made clear.
SPIRIT will be in you.
GOD will be in you.
JESUS will be in you.
SCRIPTURE will be in you.
You will see the world for what it is.
And you will only LOVE serving GOD.
GOD will be home in your heart.
John 14:23
King James Version
23 Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me,
he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him,
and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him.
Related material:
It's wonderful knowing SCRIPTURE
The BEAUTY of BEING BORN AGAIN
Without the HOLY SPIRIT life is nothing
Are you a FRUIT of the SPIRIT?
Jelly Belly (saw it for real)
Image source: Unsplash
Psalm 136:26
King James Version
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
Happiness at having found God.
That's what happens when you've become born again.
All things become clear.
Scripture becomes easy to understand.
God becomes a delight to understand.
You focus on God alone.
Jesus becomes your Lord.
Life becomes a life of service to the Lord.
Knowing God's will and following it, becomes your focus.
Your heart becomes grateful for all your blessings.
You begin to understand the mystery of God.
You see the hand of God in everything.
Your whole life centers around God now.
Self is no more.
John 3:30
King James Version
30 He must increase,
but I must decrease.
Once you seek God with all your heart, expect an answer.
Once God answers, you will forever be transformed.
He will ask you become born again.
It is the first step to understanding Jesus.
Once you become born again, all become clear.
Once you've found God, you'll never let go.
Once the Holy Spirit is given, never again will you listen to the world.
Once Spirit instructs you, you marvel at the magnificent lessons.
Once you begin to understand the ways of God, you are filled with awe, joy, and excitement.
You welcome the lessons Spirit wishes to give you.
You lose interest in the ways of the world, for now, you know how God's ways are.
You know where you're going, what you're doing -- the point of it all.
Your purpose in life finally becomes clear, only because you are now following the will of God.
Only by being born again can you understand the gift of grace, love, and compassion.
There is no regret at what seems to have been time lost, for God knows EXACTLY when you will come around.
EVERYTHING serves His PURPOSE.
EVERYTHING is for His GLORY.
EVERYTHING is for JESUS.
How can you know all that, unless you become born again?
Follow the Lord's command.
John 3:3-7
King James Version
3 Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily,
I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old?
can he enter the second time into his mother's womb,
and be born?
5 Jesus answered,
Verily, verily,
I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again.
when done with love,
for JESUS.
Because I love Jesus, I do my best to follow His commandments.
And because I am far from perfect, I have to write about sin.
I need to correct myself first.
As a born again, I need to understand what Scripture says, so I can follow the Lord's commandments, write about His specific instructions, and share it with you.
The Holy Spirit has been my teacher for over 18 months now.
He leads me to the verses, and everything else in my life, and work, for I desire to serve God, and you.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
King James Version
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
I need to be precise, for I can offer you no less.
I cannot honor the Spirit less than attention, and accuracy, too.
May my series of articles on sin be worthy of Jesus, even as I have a long way to go in being perfect for God.
But that first step is always the most important.
Since becoming born again, I've made my focus on Jesus alone, on His EXACT words and instructions, on His fulfillment of Scripture, and on His sacrifice at the cross, that we may live.
1 Corinthians 2:2 (KJV)
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ,
and him crucified.
I found that writing on sin was an astounding process, for there was SO MUCH material on it.
I had to make sure I understood the nature of each sin, and what the consequences were.
I could have been overwhelmed, but the Holy Spirit of God led me by the hand each moment.
Spirit and I started with abominations to God.
Repentance was what Jesus asked of us.
We are sick in the soul, and He is the Physician.
Only through Jesus can we be healed from our consorting with darkness.
Mark 2:17 (KJV)
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them,
They that are whole have no need of the physician,
but they that are sick:
I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
It's been a week since I first started that series on sin, and Holy Spirit has inspired me to write 30 articles relevant to it -- whether it be of the actual sin, or the help Jesus can give for it.
Everything, as always, is based on Scripture.
The important thing is sin awareness, and thus, repentance.
Let our hearts be humble before the Lord.
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God;
Click this link to view the series on sin.
We need the instructions of Jesus in these perilous times.
Updated 25 January 2022
1 John 4:9-11
King James Version
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love,
not that we loved God,
but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved,
if God so loved us,
we ought also to love one another.
You cannot be born again, unless God thinks you're really ready for Him.
God decides when, and how.
God decides about everything, in fulfillment of His own plans for 7.8 billion people on earth.
Only God could do that.
If you seek the Lord, with all your heart, He will be found.
Even as He had been there all this time.
Just that you weren't.
Pretty much like what happened to me.
I kept searching for God's truth.
I called it ultimate truth.
But what was it?
I wanted to zero in on it.
How could I find it?
God was pretty silent about some things.
He let me find my way around Him.
If the Bible could blink, as I wove my way through endless books at the thrift shop, He would have.
If He could laugh, He'd be roaring His heart out.
He was right under my nose, and I didn't even realize it.
I kept searching elsewhere.
But God respected my ways, even as it took a long time for me to realize the Bible contained ALL the answers I needed.
Sure, I'd pray to God for my needs, and questions.
And yes, He'd answer in a way I would understand.
Still, there was no governing power, for I had not given Him my heart, in full.
I had not been ready for His Word.
As a writer, journalist, curious child, trained in Architecture, God knew I was wired, and coded, for precision.
Would He have let me approach His Word, without all that essential training?
So, He let me make mistakes.
He knew I'd get up again, and find a better way.
Until one day, I couldn't find a better way, and finally surrendered to Him.
Exactly what He was waiting for.
After that, everything became easy.
The Holy Spirit started instructing me.
Non stop, for 17 months now.
I was led to important videos, teachings, and verses about the Word of God, from many various sources, only chosen by God.
And my heart gratefully absorbed all that.
Each day became magnificent!
The Bible was opening His (for it's God's) heart to me, showing me, teaching me, delighting me, and I was like a happy child, astounded at all the treasures I came upon.
That's how it is when you give your heart to the Lord.
He gives you the Holy Spirit.
Scripture becomes clear.
You begin to understand God's ways.
You love obeying God's will.
If anything, studying the Bible, means searching for His commands.
Questions, and prayers, are answered -- before you're even done asking, or praying.
Every day you wake up is a joy, a day to look forward to.
Now I know why the prophets don't bother with their looks.
God matters more.
You do not have room for vanity, only God.
You're like a heat-seeking missile, only focused on the fire of the Lord.
Unless you've become born again, you will not understand what I'm saying.
Scripture becomes your whole life.
The Word of God is the only thing that can fill your heart, right your wrongs, direct your path.
You cannot have enough of it, for Jesus is Living Water, the Bread of Life.
Only a thirsty, and hungry soul, can comprehend that.
When you've found Jesus, you will certainly be a changed man.
He will create a new heart in you.
Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV)
26 A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Consider being born again the most delicious path back to God.
Now, everything I learn, is rooted firmly in Christ.
He is my heart, and my foundation.
He has a purpose for me, and I let the Lord lead the way.
It's always back to God anyway.
Again, my question is:
"How can you not want to become born again?"
Updated 25 January 2022
JESUS said:
John 15:7
King James Version
7 If ye abide in me,
and my words abide in you,
ye shall ask what ye will,
and it shall be done unto you.
What did the LORD JESUS say, about prayer?
Let's hear from the FOUR apostles who documented the WORDS of JESUS:
Mark 11:24 (KJV)
24 Therefore I say unto you,
What things soever ye desire,
when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.
John 14:13-14 (KJV)
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name,
I will do it.
Matthew 21:21-22 (KJV)
21 Jesus answered and said unto them,
Verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith,
and doubt not,
ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree,
but also if ye shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed,
and be thou cast into the sea;
it shall be done.
22 And all things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing,
ye shall receive.
Luke 11:9 (KJV)
9 And I say unto you,
Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Here are the LORD's admonitions about the kind of praying we do:
Matthew 6:5-6 (KJV)
5 And when thou prayest,
thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues
and in the corners of the streets,
that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.
6 But thou,
when thou prayest,
enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret
shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:7-8 (KJV)
7 But when ye pray,
use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them:
for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,
before ye ask him.
And here's the PRAYER Jesus asked us to pray:
Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever.
Amen.
As always, I THANK the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, who led me to these verses, easily.
Things are really simple with the LORD.
Let's not complicate it.
Bible DISCOVERY 19: The PARADOX of PRAYER
Updated 25 January 2022
Matthew 6:7-8
King James Version
7 But when ye pray,
use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard
their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them:
for your Father knoweth
what things ye have need of,
before ye ask him.
Pray as a child would, in all simplicity, and sincerity.
There is usually no guile in a very young child.
There is even no fear, until they are caused to fear.
There is only trust, joy, confidence, excitement.
They also seem to have an instant connection with God.
Maybe that's why JESUS loves them so!
Matthew 19:14
King James Version
14 But Jesus said,
Suffer little children,
and forbid them not, to come unto me:
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Children speak from their heart.
They speak of what they want.
They speak in their own words.
They don't put brakes on their thoughts.
If not intimidated, they just spell it out, and have it out.
They're direct with their questions.
God delights in their "rawness".
A lot of their questions sometimes befuddle us.
And we think to ourselves, "Why didn't I think of that before?"
Their simple thinking delights the LORD.
There is no hypocrisy in children.
They don't know that word.
Much less spell it.
That's how GOD wants us to approach Him in prayer.
To be like trusting, little children, baring our souls to GOD, and expecting a favored response.
Fortunately , before GOD made me born again, I approached Him as a child would -- happy and trusting.
I've always been child-like anyway.
After I became born again, getting to know His WORD now, the happier, and more trusting I got.
My excitement at my many discoveries from the BIBLE is BEYOND description.
Now, I finally know JESUS answers prayers in His OWN PERFECT WAY.
It might not be what we want, but what do we really know?
We do not have the HEART and MIND of GOD, who knows all, sees all, for He is CREATOR of ALL.
The perfect prayer is actually just letting GOD have His will for us.
In the next post, I will share what the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD led me to concerning JESUS, and prayer.
Related material:
Updated 28 September 2023
JESUS said:
Matthew 4:4
King James Version
4 But he answered and said,
It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.
There is real sustenance for the spirit.
Nourishing you each day.
Keeping your soul safe.
As a grateful baby Christian, I seek the WORD of GOD constantly, being fed by Scripture each day, feeding my spirit with real sustenance, correcting the errors of my heart.
Be fed by more verses.
John 7:38 (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me,
as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
1 Peter 2:2-3 (KJV)
2 As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Hebrews 5:13-14 (KJV)
13 For every one that useth milk
is unskilful in the word of righteousness:
for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil.
Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV)
3 And he humbled thee,
and suffered thee to hunger,
and fed thee with manna,
which thou knewest not,
neither did thy fathers know;
that he might make thee know
that man doth not live by bread only,
but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
Exodus 16:4-5 (KJV)
4 Then said the Lord unto Moses,
Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you;
and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day,
that I may prove them,
whether they will walk in my law,
or no.
5 And it shall come to pass,
that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in;
and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
Exodus 16:11-12 (KJV)
11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel:
speak unto them, saying,
At even ye shall eat flesh,
and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread;
and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.
Exodus 16:31-32 (KJV)
31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna:
and it was like coriander seed, white;
and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
32 And Moses said,
This is the thing which the Lord commandeth,
Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations;
that they may see the bread
wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness,
when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 16:35 (KJV)
35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years,
until they came to a land inhabited;
they did eat manna,
until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
Psalm 78:24-25 (KJV)
24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat,
and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25 Man did eat angels' food:
he sent them meat to the full.
Image source: Mockup Graphics
Updated 25 January 2022
"The Bible tells me so."
Learned that from Catholic school, early on.
It's actually a line from one of the songs we were taught in elementary school.
You know how certain words, phrases, and sentences stick?
Well, that sentence stuck.
But did the Catholic church ask us to study the Bible?
Nope.
The priests did the studying for us.
At mass, they dished out a verse, or two.
So, up until last year -- over 16 months ago -- I had been in darkness.
I was studying the wrong books, searching for ULTIMATE TRUTH.
It was only when GOD made me born again last year, did I finally open a Bible, and REALLY began to read it.
What a treasure it was!
So much so, I dropped ALL other books.
By the GRACE of GOD, and GUIDANCE from the HOLY SPIRIT, I was able to understand what the Bible revealed.
It was easier than I thought, because I was a kid at heart.
I was entirely teachable.
And excited to learn.
Now, I can really say, "The BIBLE tells me so!"
The WORD of GOD has taken residence in my heart.
Pretty much what GOD did for Israel:
Jeremiah 31:33
King James Version
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel;
After those days,
saith the Lord,
I will put my law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts;
and will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
I've always had a love for the LORD.
But being born again really delighted the thirsty child in me, to drink from the waters of life in JESUS.
Thing is, I was not just drinking from it, I was also splashing in GOD's fountain of living waters.
Now, my faith is fully grounded on the WORD of GOD.
Everything is tested upon Scripture.
My unshakable SPIRITUAL foundation is upon the ROCK that is CHRIST.
Psalm 18:2
King James Version
2 The Lord is my rock,
and my fortress,
and my deliverer;
my God,
my strength,
in whom I will trust;
my buckler,
and the horn of my salvation,
and my high tower.
Surrender to JESUS, totally.
That's faith.
In JESUS, I trust.
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Updated 27 March 2022
Habakkuk 2:3 King James Version 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tar...
